Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and bracelet, made for the Royal Oman Police

Reference 16800 was introduced into the market in 1982 and featured the quick-set date function and an increased depth rating of 1000 ft (300 m). Early models still had the luminous indexes as in reference 1680, later generations were fitted with the white gold borders around the luminous numerals.

The particularity of the present watch is the emblem on its dial, the insignia of the Royal Oman Police: the national emblem of the Sultanate of Oman, the khanjar dagger in a sheath superimposed upon two crossed swords surmounted by a crown, flanked by laurel wreath, and the Arabic inscription "Shurta 'Uman as-Sultaniyyah" or "Royal Oman Police".

The addition of this insignia to the dial requested the removal of the designation "Submariner, 1000ft=300m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" commonly found in the standard versions of reference 16800, leaving only the "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date" to the upper part.

The emblem of the Royal Oman Police was most certainly added by the Rolex retailer in Muscat to whom the watch was originally sold.

Furthermore preserved in very good overall condition, the present watch is a fine and exclusive example of an early reference 16800, featuring the matte black dial without the white gold frames around the beautifully discoloured, ivory-coloured luminous markers.